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Thursday, September 18, 2008

Pit Stop HNT

As mentioned previously here, and on her own site, Moose is on her way to the "Last Frontier" (Alaska, for those of you born when there's always been 50 States). Driving the entire way with her dad and three neurotic cats (dad's not neurotic, from what I could tell). They stopped here last night to get one more bite of calamari, and one more drink of local brew before driving the next 2500 miles over the next 4 days to Fairbanks. Before getting to the HNT, here's some interesting facts about our 49th state:

Alaska's coastline, 6,640 miles, is longer than all the other states' coastlines combined. It is the United State's largest state, measuring 1,400 miles long and 2,700 miles wide; Rhode Island could fit into Alaska 425 times.

Alaska has more inland water than any other state, 20,171 square miles.

Alaska accounts for 25% of the oil produced in the United States.

The Trans-Alaska Pipeline moves up to 88,000 barrels of oil per hour on its 800 mile journey to Valdez.

Most of America's salmon, crab, halibut, and herring come from Alaska.

The term Alaska native refers to Alaska's original inhabitants including Aleut, Eskimo and Indian groups.

The state motto is North to the Future.

The jade is the official state gemstone.

The four-spot skimmer dragonfly is the official state insect.

Alaska has been called America's Last Frontier.

Every four years Alaskans elect a Governor and a Lieutenant Governor to four-year terms.

The Alaska State Legislature is made up of a Senate and a House of Representatives.

Alaska Highway was originally built as a military supply road during World War II.

State boasts the lowest population density in the nation.

Alaska is a geographical marvel. When a scale map of Alaska is superimposed on a map of the 48 lower states, Alaska extends from coast to coast.

Alaska is the United State's largest state and is over twice the size of Texas. Measuring from north to south the state is approximately 1,400 miles long and measuring from east to west it is 2,700 miles wide.

Agattu, Attu, and Kiska are the only parts of North America occupied by Japanese troops during World War II.

Alaska's geographic center is 60 miles northwest of Mount McKinley.

Tongass National Forest is the largest national forest in the United States.

17 of the 20 highest peaks in the United States are located in Alaska.

At 20,320 feet above sea level, Mt. McKinley, located in Alaska's interior, is the highest point in North America.

The state's largest city is Anchorage; the second largest is Fairbanks.

Alaska Range is the largest mountain chain in the state. It covers from the Alaska Peninsula to the Yukon Territory.

Juneau is the only capital city in the United States accessible only by boat or plane. It is also the largest US city covering 3,108 square miles. Los Angeles covers only 458.2 square miles.

More bald eagles gather along the Chilkat River than at any other place in the world.

There are more than 100,000 glaciers in Alaska and about 75% of all the fresh water in the state is stored as glacial ice.

There are over three million lakes in Alaska. The largest, Lake Iliamna, is the size of Connecticut.

Malaspina Glacier, at the foot of Mount Saint Elias, covers an area larger than Rhode Island.

Hopefully you've learned something! It was wonderful to see her again (and to meet her dad!). It's going to be awhile before we see each other again, I think. Just wish Rachel could have joined us. Maybe next time! Here's Moose and I playing a little pattyfinger behind my beer. Yes, that's a slice of lemon floating on top. Deal with it!

Psssttt...click it!

“I think that when we look for love courageously, it reveals itself, and we wind up attracting even more love. If one person really wants us, everyone does. But if we’re alone, we become even more alone. Life is strange.”

--Paulo Coelho

Look for the reveal on Thursday afternoon!This week's MG is probably new to most of you. It's Macabre Girl, and you can find her over here. Stop by and say hi! She's already revealed herself over there! Another good week for your fellow HNTers over at "...the Other HNT"! Leave some good comments!! As always, it's most decidedly NSFW!Lecram notes that, with the end of summer next week, it's time to say "Sarong to Summer"! While it's not an "official" theme, if you want to show off your sarong, next week's HNT is the time to do it! But be sure to leave him a comment that you're doing it to! You can see the fun that was had in 2006 and 2007. You should check his site out anyway. He doesn't HNT on a regular basis anymore, but when he does, he does it well!Some of you old-timers might remember Heather, from Canada. She's pretty much had to give up her blogging due to her jewelry business taking off. That's her over there on the left, displaying some of her handiwork! She's been selling her wares primarily wholesale in Canada, but has just opened up an online site to sell to the masses! Click on her link below and check out what she's got to offer. I hate to use the "C" word here, but it's only about three months away!